Coonawarra & Wrattonbully Wine Guide 2025

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2022

Balnaves of Coonawarra Chardonnay 2023

G 93

G 93

This young and tightly packed blend of Cabernet Franc and Shiraz teases with aromas of blackberry, and graphite with a base of dark chocolate plus a dusting of dried herbs. Bone dry with prodigious tannins and immense power, this is a massive wine that is built for the serious long haul. Don’t both even thinking about opening a bottle for at least 10 years. Drink 2035–2045 Wynns Coonawarra Estate V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 2022 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Cassis, blackberry, herb garden aromas with sage hint mint notes. Fresh slinky textured wine with blackcurrant, dark plum, fruits, fine loose knit chalky touch leafy tannins combined with savoury oak; the Shiraz gives buoyancy of fruit and fills the mid palate but still an elegant style. Drink now–2030 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Well evolved Cabernet with cassis, espresso, tobacco leaf, touch capsicum aromas. Inky deep palate with ample dark berry fruits, roasted coffee, tobacco leaf, black olive, chinotto notes, al-dente/ leafy/ grippy textures, attractive mid-palate density and hints of vanilla, marzipan. Finishes grippy and long. A firm claret style with lovely volume and mineral length. 20 months maturation in 36% new and seasoned French and Hungarian hogsheads. Drink now–2030 Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 G 93 Deep crimson. Classic choc-mint, lifted cedar and chocolate aromas. Precise blackcurrant and leafy flavours with a strong line of fine yet firm tannins bode well for the future. Drink 2026–2034 Barristers Block The Bully Shiraz 2022 G 92 Medium-deep crimson. Approachable aromas of crushed spices, mulberry and blackberry are accented by creamy oak nuances. Chocolate and mixed spice flavours to follow, with tight, blocky tannins. This wine needs time to soften. Drink 2026–2032 Brand & Sons Sanctuary Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot 2019 G 92 This big, chunky and slightly heavy-set 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is packed full of chocolate, fruit compote and liquorice aromas with bold sweet oak. Full-throttle acidity and tannins combine with decadent flavours, with lead pencil oak dominant to finish. Drink 2030–2040 Brand & Sons Family Reserve Cabernets Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot 2021 G 92 This well-constructed and mouth-filling 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is punchy with blackberry, minty and strong herbal tones providing strong typicity. A muscular, tannin-driven palate follows that is firm and drying with warm blackberry flavours accented by clovey oak. A sleeper that needs a little time to settle. Drink 2027–2033

Mid straw. Powerful with peach nectar, nectarine and mango aromas wrapped up in a thick blanket of cedary oak. Opening with a burst of tangy-ness before settling into topical tones lifted by savoury oak handling. Well put together but needs some time to settle. Drink 2026–2030

Brand & Sons Baker’s Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

G 93

Deep crimson and classically styled with well poised and focused aromas of graphite and cassis with excellent purity. Mid weight and still quite tight with impressive palate tension and quite firm tannins illustrating a wine that will age well although needs a little time to build. Drink 2026–2032 Leconfield Cabernet Franc 2022 G 93 Deep crimson. Complex gravel, violet and blackberry aromas with graphite hints. Well defined with chewy textures and brooding dark berry fruit power supported by firm tannins that deliver a strong finish. Drink 2030–2042 Leconfield Old Vines Riesling 2024 G 93 50-year-old vines this year deliver a flavoursome style bursting with honeysuckle and dried lime aromas with notes of spice. Quite textural with well integrated acidity driving a youthful finish, which should age well. Drink 2026–2032 Parker Estate Terra Rossa Merlot 2023 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Pretty and refined dark cherry and mulberry aromas are accented with leafy/cedary notes. Fleshy blackberry, blackcurrant and gravel flavours with silky textures fan out to a fine yet detailed finish with attractive density and depth of tannins. Drink 2025–2032 Raïdis Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Strong herbal tones precede a rich core of blackberry and graphite, with mahogany complexity. Approachable and well concentrated showing more slatey cassis and coffee grounds flavours with superb tannin management. A sleeper, but lots to like. Drink 2036–2035 Raïdis Wines Mama Goat Merlot 2022 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Fruit pastille, mulberry and blackberry aromas with notes of dried herbs. Good concentration of dark cherry, blackberry flavours, fresh acidity and grainy tannins with a touch leafy fruit rising over a lengthy finish. Drink now–2030

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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus

South Australia 2024

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